Physics

From the forces that keep athletes twirling and sliding, to the weird laws governing the world of the very small, to the far-out concepts of time travel and alternate universes, physics covers a lot of interesting territory. Here, Live Science keeps you abreast of all the fascinating physics discoveries.Physics

Related Topics: Elements, Chemical Reactions, Technology

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Scientists blast atoms with Fibonacci laser to make an 'extra' dimension of time

By Ben Turner published

The new phase was made by firing lasers at 10 ytterbium ions inside a quantum computer.

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image shows auroras above the poles of Jupiter.

Extreme physics of 'supercritical' matter may be surprisingly simple

By Stephanie Pappas published

At 'supercriticality,' the difference between the liquid and gas phases of a material seems to disappear. New research finds that this weird tipping point may be simpler than scientists thought.

Albert Einstein's famous equation

Why does E=mc^2?

By Paul Sutter published

Albert Einstein's famous equation E = m^2 connects energy to mass via the speed of light. Find out why E = m^2.

Atoms consist of a nucleus made of protons and neutrons orbited by electrons.

Where do electrons get energy to spin around an atom's nucleus?

By Paul Sutter published

Quantum mechanics explains why the electrons can keep spinning indefinitely.

Protons, made of three quarks, colliding

What is the strong force?

By Jim Lucas published

Reference The strong force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. Learn how it fits into the Standard Model of particle physics.

The solar filament bursting over the sun's northern hemisphere.

'Canyon of fire' solar storm will slam into Earth today or tomorrow

By Ben Turner published

The solar material was launched from a snapping solar filament

Physicists and engineers replaced the heart of the CMS experiment in 2017 to improve its ability to make precise measurements.

Large Hadron Collider switches on at highest ever power level to look for dark matter

By Ben Turner published

Physicists say the third run will collect more data than the previous two combined.

Artist's rendering of a wandering black hole. Int he center there is a black circle and surrounding it the galaxy swirl of stars warp around it.

Rogue black hole wandering Milky Way alone proves Einstein right again

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers have directly measured the mass and velocity of an isolated black hole for the first time using gravitational lensing.

Abstract image of an alarm clock against a black space-like background.

Physicists link two time crystals in seemingly impossible experiment

By Paul Sutter published

New time crystal achievement could help bridge classical and quantum physics.

An artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched on Dec. 25, 2021.

James Webb Space Telescope hit by large micrometeoroid

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's next-generation space observatory has sustained its first noticeable impact less than six months after launch, but the agency isn't too concerned.

An abstract drawing of particles with squiggly waves

Physicists discover never-before seen particle sitting on a tabletop

By Robert Lea published

This newly-discovered particle could account for dark matter.

Best physics books- Person reading book surrounded by equations. metamorworks via Shutterstock

Best physics books: Change the way you look at the universe

By Megan Kachigan published

Here are the best physics books for anyone looking for an accessible and engaging immersion into the world of physics and wondering about our universe.

The doughnut-shaped fusion chamber of the TCV contains the superheated hydrogen plasmas in powerful magnetic fields to keep it from damaging the walls.

Physicists just rewrote a foundational rule for nuclear fusion reactors that could unleash twice the power

By Tom Metcalfe published

Future fusion reactions inside tokamaks could shine even brighter than before, thanks to groundbreaking new research to find the maximum density of the hydrogen plasma fuel that powers them.

The LCLS-II accelerator, where temperatures 2 K above absolute zero have been achieved.

Temperatures colder than space achieved here on Earth using superconducting X-ray laser

By Robert Lea published

Using a superconducting X-ray laser, researchers at SLAC achieved a temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

A lunar eclipse seen on May 26, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand.

What is a lunar eclipse?

By Colin Stuart published

Reference Lunar eclipses occur when the moon falls into Earth's shadow, creating a blood moon, and can be total, partial or penumbral. Here's when one will happen next.

A strontium lattice optical atomic clock

Ultraprecise atomic optical clocks may redefine the length of a second

By Tia Ghose published

The length of a second hasn't been updated in 70 years, but ultraprecise atomic optical clocks are on track to change that.

Here, the Large Hadron Collider is shown on April 22, 2022, the day the atom smasher restarted again for Run 3 after a three-year nap.

What is the Large Hadron Collider?

By Adam Mann published

The Large Hadron Collider is the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Here's a look at the atom smasher and all its amazing discoveries.

VV689 collision

Cosmic 'angel wings' emerge from violent galactic collision in Leo constellation

By Scott Dutfield published

Hubble telescope snaps images of an 'angel's wings' in the constellation Leo

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

Large Hadron Collider is waking up after a 3-year nap, and it could help explain why the universe exists.

By Mara Johnson-Groh published

After a three-year nap, the world's largest atom smasher is waking up and getting ready to smash atoms harder than ever.

The CDF detector, which is part of the Tevatron particle accelerator at Fermilab in Illinois, just stunned physicists with new “hefty” measurements of the W boson’s mass.

Oddly heavy particle may have just broken the reigning model of particle physics

By Paul Sutter published

An ultraprecise measurement of the mass of the W boson may diverge from the Standard Model, a long-reigning framework that governs the strange world of quantum physics.